Coaching for Leaders: Better Leadership Through Improved Communications, Human Relations, and Personal Productivity

Leadership is often most challenging when the path forward is not clear. In this week’s episode, I talk with Barry Schwartz, author of the book Practical Wisdom: The Right Way To Do the Right Thing to help us discover how we can make better decisions as leaders. Guest: Barry Schwartz Author with Kenneth Sharpe of Practial Wisdom: The Right Way To Do the Right Thing Here are Barry’s TED Talks: Our Loss Of Wisdom Using Our Practical Wisdom The Paradox Of Choice Barry also mentioned the book The Blessing Of A Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel Connect with Barry on the LinkedIn Influencer platform Community Feedback CoachingforLeaders.com/92 USA: (949) 38-LEARN feedback@coachingforleaders.com Twitter: #CFLshow Check out my new series of QuickCoach videos, that will be airing each week. Thank you to Philippa Willitts, Abdul Rauf, Randy Alvarez, Pekka Peltonen, Mariela Diaz, Mark Sieverkropp, Julie Starnes, Greg Payne, and Kelly Anderson, Ben Kanu, Khalil Kouidrat, Eneogwe Chinyere Linda, and Akuyela Evelina Hilma Namwenyo for following me this week on either Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. If you’d like to stay connected as well, simply go to CoachingforLeaders.com and find the social media icons on this page. Thank you to Flamewho for your very kind written review on iTunes. If this show has been valuable to you as well, please leave a written review on iTunes by visting coachingforleaders.com/itunes Want a mid-week booster shot? I send an email article out every week. Just go to coachingforleaders.com/subscribe

Do you know what to say when someone comes at you who is livid? Virtually every leader had fielded conversations like this, but at lot of us haven’t handled these situations as well as we’d like. In this show, I welcome Mark Goulston, co-author of the recent book Real Influence: Persuade Without Pushing and Gain Without Giving In to share his three-step process to best handle these situations. Guest: Mark Goulston Co-Author of Real Influence: Persuade Without Pushing and Gain Without Giving In Check out Mark’s article on this same topic on the Harvard Business Review blog Three three-step process that Mark recommended: 1. What are you most frustrated about? 2. What are you most angry about? 3. What are you really worried about? Here are links to Mark’s books: Real Influence: Persuade Without Pushing and Gain Without Giving In Just Listen Community Feedback CoachingforLeaders.com/91 USA: (949) 38-LEARN feedback@coachingforleaders.com Twitter: #CFLshow Thank you to Peter Ochieng, Kenhjie Almaden, Sue Florimonte, Shawn Richardson, Chris Edmonds, Selah Cosentino, Balaji Muralidharan, Africa Hands, and Mattias Jarnhall for following me this week on social media. If you’d like to stay connected as well, simply go to CoachingforLeaders.com and find the social media icons on this page. Thank you to William Shaker for your very kind written review on iTunes. If this show has been valuable to you as well, please leave a written review on iTunes by visting coachingforleaders.com/itunes Want a mid-week booster shot? I send an email article out every week via email. Just go to coachingforleaders.com/subscribe

On episode #89, I welcomed Steve Dosier, a StrengthsFinder expert formerly of Gallup and now with Blue Star Intel, to teach us about the history of StrengthsFinder. This week, he takes Bonni and I through our StrengthsFinder 2.0 results so you can learn more about the value of utilizing your StrengthsFinder report. Guest: Steve Dosier Blue Star Intel stevedosier@bluestarintel.com (714) 536–4871 Questions Steve asked of us: Individual Questions How closely do you feel your Top–5 Strengths match you? What do you agree strongly with? Are there any areas that don’t quite sound like you? Relationship Questions What Strengths do you feel you both connect upon and why? What Strengths do you find complimentary to your own and why? How do you leverage each other’s Strengths to get the best from each other? (You get the best of me when…) I feel this Strength helps me provide a unique contribution to our relationship… (My contribution to this relationship is….) Now that you know each other’s Strengths as defined by the Clifton StrengthsFinder Report, what do you better understand and appreciate about each other? (Was there a point of conflict or disagreement that StrengthsFinder has helped you better understand and manage?) Here's a link to download suggestions from Steve on how to maximize your use of the StrengthsFinder instrument Bonni’s Strengths: Relator Achiever Connectedness Futuristic Strategic Dave’s Strengths (link to Dave’s report): Futuristic Relator Intellection Learner Responsibility Community Feedback CoachingforLeaders.com/90 USA: (949) 38-LEARN feedback@coachingforleaders.com Twitter: #CFLshow Thank you to Beverly Meyer, Daniel Sirvent, Mark Loomis, Pirkko Aminoff, Sonia Di Maulo, Jeremy Ginn, Anwar Barznji, and Mike Taddeo for following me this week on social media. If you’d like to stay connected as well, simply go to CoachingforLeaders.com and find the social media icons on this page. Thank you to RGray4000 for the review on iTunes. If this show has been valuable to you as well, please leave a written review on iTunes by visting coachingforleaders.com/itunes Want a mid-week booster shot? I send an email article out every week via email. Just go to coachingforleaders.com/subscribe

StrengthsFinder is one of the most popular instruments utilized in corporate training and coaching programs. In this episode, I welcome Steve Dosier, a StrengthsFinder expert formerly of Gallup and now with Blue Star Intel, to teach us about the history of StrengthsFinder and help us discover how we can get the most value from the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment. Guest: Steve Dosier Blue Star Intel stevedosier@bluestarintel.com (714) 536–4871 Here are some of the resources we discussed during the show: StrengthsFinder 2.0 book (a code is included in this book for the instrument) Now Discover Your Strenghts (also includes assessment) Living with Your Strengths book (also includes assessment) You can purchase a code ala carte to take the StrengthsFinder assessment at this link without purchasing the book. Community Feedback CoachingforLeaders.com/89 USA: (949) 38-LEARN feedback@coachingforleaders.com Twitter: #CFLshow Thank you to Regan Kakoschke, Malik Tayyab, Zouré Basnewendé, Nakhli Habib, Daniel Crispim, Chyane Grantchyane, Tareq Islam, Jeremy Walsh, Raul Diaz Lomeli, and Helen Hutton for following me this week on either Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. If you’d like to stay connected as well, simply go to CoachingforLeaders.com and find the social media icons on this page. Thank you to Lead 1st for your very kind written review on iTunes. If this show has been valuable to you as well, please leave a written review on iTunes by visiting coachingforleaders.com/itunes Want a mid-week booster shot? I send an email article out every week via email. Just go to coachingforleaders.com/subscribe

Meaning and significance goes way past how much money you make and the title you hold. Most lasting happiness is tied to the larger picture. In this episode, Bonni and I look at the importance of goal-setting and life planning, in order to help you get on track to maximize your full potential. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Guest: Bonni Stachowiak What does a life plan give you? Clarity around what is important The ability to better manage priorities and balance your time Better sense of what to say no to… More of a sense that you are truly living "Contrary to popular belief, great things almost never happen by accident. Great accomplishments are planned. Sadly, much of the planning we do goes into accomplishments that leave us feeling empty in the end." -Donald Miller How to phrase a goal: SMART goals Careful of negatively-focused goals, such as I want to lose weight... Focus on what you will gain (as in what will the benefit be…) Increase the likelihood of following through on goals Put them somewhere where you'll see them Track your progress along the way Share them with others Create an ideal week that aligns with your life plan and your goals See Michael Hyatt's book on Creating Your Personal Life Plan Other resources we mentioned: Remember the Milk Hope for the Flowers Thank you to Mike Farrow, Gay Pickner, David Bazan, Eric Furlong, Elmer Turner, and Olivia Cascante for either liking our page on Facebook, following me on Google+, or following me on Twitter. Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

Almost everyone who leads is doing more influencing of people through technology. Many of us are even working remotely or managing others who work remotely. In this show, I welcome Loren Kousaie from Microsoft to speak about his extensive experience in leading people virtually over the years - and to offer us suggestions and what we can do better when communicating and leading from a distance. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Guest: Loren Kousaie, Microsoft Here are the questions I asked of Loren: Tell me about your role at Microsoft and how you're physically spaced from your team. What's a typical day like for you? Also, what kind of tools are you using to connect with your team? What is different about leading people working virtually than leading in other venues? How do you set expectations with your team about what a remote relationship with you will be like? When you started leading virtually, what was the biggest mind shift you had to make? What would you like to have known about leading virtually that you didn't when you started? Leadership can be lonely. Leading virtually can be even lonelier - what do you do to stay in community with others, either professionally or personally? What's a discovery you've made about yourself along the way that's contributed to your success? “In order to arrive at what you do not know You must go by a way which is the way of ignorance. In order to possess what you do not possess You must go by the way of dispossession. In order to arrive at what you are not You must go through the way in which you are not. And what you do not know is the only thing you know And what you own is what you do not own And where you are is where you are not.” -T.S. Eliot Thank you to Bill Croby, Tom Otley, Rick Becerra, Adroana Clemat, Ben Gharbia, Sandra Perez, and Mariam Tsitsilashvili for either liking our page on Facebook, following me on Google+, or following me on Twitter. A special thank you to David Soler for the kind review on iTunes. If you'd like to leave a written review as well, please do so at this link. Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

Virtually all leaders in organizations are called upon to manage (or at least be part of) the hiring process. In this episode, Bonni and I look at some common mistakes made in the hiring process and some straightforward things you can do to get better results in your hiring decisions. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Guest: Bonni Stachowiak Common Failures in the Hiring Process: 1. Testing for interview skills instead of what it will take to do the job well Utilize behavioral interview questions Test for skills instead of only considering interview responses Book recommendation: Hiring Smart! by Pierre Mornell 2. Falling victim to the halo effect Sometimes one positive thing inappropriately interferes with our perceptions Define your criteria in advance of meeting with candidates Use multiple data points 3. Missing small clues along the way Have a multi-step process and track the individual's progress through it 4. Forgetting that the very best candidates are interviewing you as much as you are interviewing them Look at your process from an outsider's perspective 5. Not leveraging technology Leverage services that will help you connect with candidates Remember the hidden job market A mentioned a brief note about episode #85 Thank you to Kristin Kay, Marie Austin, Christopher Avery, Neal Schaffer, Faviola Bolster, Andrew McGivern, Sherry Lin, Dominic Sicotte, Steve Stewart, Majid Raza, Joanna Janikowska, Angie Apollo, and Thom Stout for either liking our page on Facebook, following me on Google+, or following me on Twitter. Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

When we get beaten down, it's important for us to take actions that will pick us back up. In this show, I suggest ten things that you can do to pick yourself up after a difficult day, week, or month. If you are feeling beaten down right now, I challenge you to take action on at least one of these suggestions. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com 1) Find something to be in awe of…preferably something you had something to do with 2) Call the Leena in your life Beware of people who want to fix you Beware of people who don't listen to you when you have a bad day. Find the people that will stop and listen 3) Help somebody who can do nothing for you The real test of a person's character is to watch how they treat someone who can do nothing for them. Mother Theresa was a powerful example “The opposite of faith is not doubt, it’s certainty." -Anne Lamott Who could you help? 4) Get outdoors 5) Read three pages of How To Stop Worrying and Start Living How to banish boredom What makes you tired and what you can do about it How to add one hour a day to your waking life 6) Teach people how to help you 7) Spend time with a small child Luke at church Luke at Toys 'R Us 8) Get perspective to center you Great example: It Gets Better Project Find people who've walked down your path. "Ahead of you, with you, and behind you." 9) Remember the Garth Brooks song, "Unanswered Prayers" Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. 10) Have More Get Tos Than Got Tos The secret to happiness? Have more get tos than go tos. A word of warning…the above won't be enough if you are clinically depressed. Talk to your doctor and see a counselor or therapist if you need more help. Also...you'll forgot all of this the moment you get beaten down. That's the time to come back to this episode. Thank you to Sandie Morgan, Moe Glenner, Sue Butts, Brad Hanson, Beth Miller, and Sully Sullenberger for either liking our page on Facebook, following me on Google+, or following me on Twitter. Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

Daniel Pink is the author of several bestselling books on the changing world of work. He recently released his newest book, To Sell Is Human, which is also now a bestseller. In this episode, Daniel joins me to speak about his new book, to tell us what's changed about sales, and to explain why we're all in sales now...even leaders. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Special Guest: Daniel Pink Author, To Sell is Human Here are the questions I asked of Daniel: You make a strong case in the book is that sales has changed. What's changed? Most people I know assume that the best salespeople are extroverts. The research you've cited in your book says no. Why not? The use of sales scripts has been rampant in developing salespeople. You call sales scripts into question a bit in this book - so what can leaders and organizations do differently to develop their sales teams? You use the term "non-sales selling" to describe what a majority of us do in our work almost every day. One area your highlight is email subject lines. Why is the subject line so important and how does in matter in moving people? Community member question from Josh: What are some ways to dispel the stereotypical salesperson view so you can move onto effective selling and marketing? Community member question from Eveliina: What are the most important characteristics of a leader? Community member question from Jackie: From Peter Drucker....what do you want to be remembered for? What's a discovery you've made about yourself along the way that's contributed to your success? A bit more about Daniel's book: Thank you to Randy Conley, Dirk Beveridge, Pam Davis, Gary Takacs, Jennifer Miller, MK Anderson, Erik Fischer, Ken Blanchard, Aline Ayoub, Jamil Kassab, Phillip Kemp, Jen Walsh, Rennata Tropeano, and Nehemiah Bangwa for either liking our page on Facebook, following me on Google+, or following me on Twitter. Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

Many of us work in organizations and cultures where there is a bias to action and "doing things" continuously. Sadly, taking time to think is becoming a lost art - yet many of us benefit from it tremendously when we take the time to do it. In this show, I examine seven ways that you can stop and think just a bit more on a regular basis. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com 7 Ways To Stop and Think Jeff Weiner, the CEO of LinkedIn, posted an article this past week titled The Importance of Scheduling Nothing. Here are seven ways that you can also stop and think: 1) Stop telling yourself the lie that next week/month/year will be better 2) Book time to think each day, especially if you are a scheduler Dedicate time each day to think If you really want to discover what's important to you, check your calendar and your bank account Check out this advice from Ursula Barnes, the CEO of Xerox 3) Brainstorm with yourself before brainstorming with others Check out the interview with Leigh Thompson on the most recent HBR Ideacast highlighting the truth about creative teams 4) Turn things off Turn off the phone and email Here's a recent New York Times article citing research on the importance of freeing our brains 5) Write stuff down Check out David Allen's book Getting Things Done Michael Hyatt produced a podcast on the Lost Art of Note-Taking on episode #47 of his show, This Is Your Life I use the Moleskine notebook for Evernote for all my note-taking...but it's more important you have and use a system, than what the system is 6) Put things into "later" buckets I do this most actively for physical mail, bills, and online articles I use Pocket to save things to read later I use Buffer to queue posts to my social networks 7) Start saying no to more Start with something small Are you getting at least as much as your are giving? (financial, enjoyment, love, contribution to the world) I've left some professional organizations where the above wasn't the case Bonus) Eliminate choices that may seem sacred Get rid of TV? Do you need to always be tied into the internet? This week, I'm taking 15 minutes every day to stop and think...please join me. Connect online to discuss your results! Thank you to Carmel Purdey, Mad Oo, MIchael Oneski, and Emad Aladawee for either liking our page on Facebook, following me on Google+, or following me on Twitter. Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

Virtually everyone wants to build their professional network, but few people are truly effective at doing it in person - and many believe it's ever more challenging online. This week, I welcome Lynette Young from Purple Stripe Productions and author of the book Google+ for Small Businesses. Over 1.5 million people follow Lynette online, so she brings a lot of credibility and experience to those of us who want to engage online more effectively. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Special Guest: Lynette Young Purple Stripe Productions Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com My advice for you this week? Show up. I'll tell you why. Thank you to Mary Wilson, Rahul Mukherjee, and J.W. Bergmann, Ben Foreman, Stephanie Linn, Marty Vettel, Tristan Kromar, Genny Bradish, Oussama Sakout, Youseek Belizi, Sopheap Tith, and Mike Thomas for either liking our page on Facebook, following me on Google+, or following me on Twitter. Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

When any of us are seeking better results, our first inclination is often to explore how we can change others. In reality, one of the best changes we can make is to first look at ourselves. In this episode, I welcome Jamie Welsh from Red Willow Group to explain how she coaches business leaders to look inward first when there are trying to create outward results. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Special Guest: Jamie Welsh CEO, Red Willow Group Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com The first, live Coaching for Leaders webinar is happening this Thursday! Here's what you need to know: How To Get It All Done, Even In The Midst of Chaos (FREE webinar) Thursday, March 28th, 2013 @ 12 p.m. Pacific Time (19:00 GMT) 1 Hour - Register HERE Thank you to Izabelle Heinig, Susi Malingping, and Mamadou Aw for either liking our page on Facebook or following me on Google+ Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

In episode #79, we examined why having a recognition program is important. In this episode, we walk through how to create one. I'm pleased to be joined again by Michelle Smith from O.C. Tanner to walk us through the 10 steps we should all be following when creating a recognition program. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Special Guest: Michelle Smith Vice President, Business Development for O.C. Tanner michelle.smith@octanner.com The 10 steps we discuss: Strategic planning Understand your audience Fact finding Program structure Communication Type of awards Budget Measurement Tracking Analysis Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com The first, live Coaching for Leaders webinar is happening Thursday, March 28th @ 12 p.m. Pacific Time (19:00 GMT). The topic is How To Get It All Done, Even In The Midst of Chaos. Watch for a link to register on Monday, March 25th in episode #81 and via email for those who get my weekly articles. The live webinar is free! Thank you to Fakha Abbas, Ndikubwimana Blaise, Carmel Purdey, and Resma Katun for either liking our page on Facebook or following me on Google+ Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

If you've never considered a recognition program for the people you lead, you may potentially be missing out on big opportunities. By request from a community member, I'm pleased to be joined by Michelle Smith from O.C. Tanner to speak to our community about recognition and why it matters in the workplace. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Special Guest: Michelle Smith Vice President, Business Development for O.C. Tanner michelle.smith@octanner.com Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Thank you to Mark Bartlett and Andrej Szyszka for either liking our page on Facebook or following me on Google+ Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.

Towards the end of his life, Mark Twain famously said, "I'm an old man and I've known many troubles, most of which never happened." Like Twain, many of us find ourselves captivated by worry on a regular basis. In this episode, we'll take a look at this human reality and some of the things that each of us can do to better control worry, both professional and personally. Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Special Guest: Bonni Stachowiak Make a decision that it's OK to worry once in awhile Take Dale Carnegie's advice of "What's the worst that can happen?" Get out of your own box and focus on serving others rather than worrying about ourselves Address challenges proactively - when there is trouble, take action! Live in day-tight compartments Some of the books we mentioned on this episode are: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers Getting Things Done by David Allen Community Feedback USA: (949) 38-LEARN Global: +1 (949) 385-3276 Twitter: @DaveStachowiak #CFLshow feedback@coachingforleaders.com Our first live webinar launches within the next month! If you have a suggestion for our first topic, email me at feedback@coachingforleaders.com and be sure you are on my weekly article list. You can subscribe at this link. Thank you to Teresa Kent, Aaron Daniel Annas, and Risto Mononen for either liking our page on Facebook or following me on Google+ Want a booster-shot mid-week? I send a weekly article via email so you can stay connected with our community and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, please subscribe at this link.